When James Kratsas, deputy director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, first came to the Grand Rapids area twenty-four years ago, he knew big things were going to happen.

“As I met a lot of the people here, you could tell how dedicated and the love of community these people had and have,” Kratsas said. “You could see then what was going to happen.”

What happened is a city that is more vibrant than others its size or larger, Kratsas said, pointing to the Van Andel Museum Center of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and, across the river from the Gerald R.Ford Presidential Museum, the renovated DeVos Center.

“We have a symphony that is world class, a civic theater that is fabulous, and now you throw in ArtPrize, and well ArtPrize has put Grand Rapids on the map,” Kratsas said, adding when the U.S. archivist stop by for a tour of the museum, he mentioned how he wanted to come back when ArtPrize was taking place. “And that was before it was as big as it is now,” Kratsas said.

The more activity there is, the more vibrant the city becomes and the more you want to do be part of the top-notch programming that is taking place, Kratsas said. The Ford Museum has brought in a range of well-known speakers from former Vice President Dick Cheney to comedian Chevy Chase. A future goal is to add a 10,000-square-foot Student Learning Center that will include programs on civics along with major renovations to the current exhibits. Of course, there is the desire to offer more programming, but the museum has to balance that against current staffing and economics, Kratsas said, adding the museum will continue to build on the partnerships it has developed while looking to reach out to other local arts institutions.

“There are several great philanthropists in the city who love to see this community grow,” Kratsas said. “This is why we have DeVos Hall, the Van Andel Museum Center, and the Meijer Gardens. These things are everywhere and the quality of life here is top-notch with people willing to give and to volunteer to make this city even better.”

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum currently features “Growing up Grand” through May 2014. For more information, visit fordlibrarymuseum.gov or call 254-0400.